Monterey County reports on first year of Pajaro Recovery Fund Program
SALINAS – The County of Monterey and its community partners provided a first year report on the accomplishments of the Pajaro Recovery Fund Program on Wednesday with an eye to the program’s coming second year.
“The $20 million allocated to the Pajaro River Revitalization Program is on track … to all be spent,” said Monterey County Supervisor District 2 and Board Chair Glenn Church. “It’s going to be spread out equally among helping residents as well as the rebuilding of the community.”
Assembly Bill 102 provided $20 million from the state in disaster relief for the community of Pajaro in response to the breach of the Pajaro River levee in March 2023. By December of last year, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved a list of “community-vetted” recovery and resilience projects to be funded by the AB102 money.
“Considering the fact there has been very minimal precedence set for establishing a post-disaster economic assistance program for individuals at the county level, (Department of Emergency Management) staff leveraged local expertise to create a new direct service program and expedite payment to disaster victims,” said Monterey County Department of Emergency Management Director Kelsey Scanlon. “Prior to the dissemination of AB102 funds, approximately $14 million in relief funds had been distributed to Pajaro residents through local state and federal assistance programs.”
Scanlon added that upon completion of the Pajaro Unmet Needs Disaster Assistance Program, it is anticipated that a total of $24 million in direct assistance will have been infused into the community to support flood recovery.
“The intention of the program is to build upon existing federal disaster relief programs and serves to meet the remaining disaster recovery costs that are burdensome to survivors,” said Scanlon.
Case managers have been working directly with individuals to address not just immediate economic assistance, which includes personalized recovery plans, help in navigating the Pajaro Unmet Needs Disaster Assistance Program, in addition to Federal Emergency Management Agency programs, insurance companies, advocating for additional resources and assessing remaining recovery needs, to leverage all available programs.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey and Community Bridges are partnering to administer the program.
Community Bridges CEO Ray Cancino said that in phase one, more than $464,600 was distributed to 688 households to address immediate needs impacting more than 2,470 household members.
“In phase two, which began earlier this year, the focus has shifted to long-term recovery, including home repairs, vehicle replacements and personal property,” said Cancino. “To date more than $633,975 have been allocated for this purpose bringing the total program support at the end of November to $1,098,575.”
Moving forward, the program is expanding with a second round of phase one, Cancino added, meaning that households that previously received assistance will automatically get additional funds ranging from $200 to $1,000 depending on household size.
“Community Bridges is committed to getting this second round of funding to the families within the next 60 days,” said Cancino. “For those who may feel that they are eligible and missed the first round of funding there is still an opportunity to apply. Please contact La Manzana at 831-724-2997 for assistance and review of the county website for eligibility requirements.”
Dan Baldwin, president and CEO of Community Foundation for Monterey County, said his organization was proud to have been able to partner with the County of Monterey in developing a grant program that would issue nearly $1.9 million to local organizations to deal with the resiliency of the Pajaro community.
Grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations working in areas including community health and dental care, business resiliency, digital equity, arts, farmworker advocacy, tenants’ rights, legal services, financial workshops, food insecurity and disaster preparedness. A volunteer grants committee comprised of a small business owner, a youth representative, two local government officials and two Pajaro residents worked with CFMC grantmaking staff to develop recommendations, which were finalized by the County of Monterey. The Foundation received 39 applications for the program.
Grants were awarded based on the impact the grant would make for area residents, according to Baldwin.
“I applaud the county for being very diligent and taking the long view of how to really bring a substantive recovery to the community after the flood,” said Baldwin.
Workforce Development Board Executive Director Chris Donnelly said Monterey County allocated nearly $4 million for small businesses. The grants will come in two phases, the first for businesses to apply for about $85,000 to assist with loss of inventory, equipment, revenue and building damages. For in-home businesses, up to $5,000 for inventory, computer laptops, tablets and so forth.
Phase two, for beautification, where up to $15,000 for which a business could apply to be used for interior and exterior painting, landscaping, signage, lighting, a number of things that businesses will need to able to bring back their businesses, said Donnelly.
“We’ve approved up to $1.258 million in funding for the businesses in phase one,” he said.
The County of Monterey is developing infrastructure improvements for the Pajaro community focusing on pedestrian enhancements such as sidewalk repairs, street crossing upgrades, accessible curb ramps, and street safety lighting, among other improvements, said Monterey County Public Works, Facilities and Parks Director Randy Ishii, who added construction is expected in mid-2025.
The Department of Emergency Management is acquiring a high-water rescue vehicle that can navigate through up to 50 inches of water, seats up to 16 passengers, is equipped with emergency lighting and a public address system, and a rear cargo ramp for the mobility challenged, “allowing us to reach residents who are trapped in flooded areas,” said North Monterey County Fire District Chief Joel Mendoza.
A New Holland tractor and trailer has been acquired to help clear debris, support sandbagging operations among other critical tasks, Mendoza added, as well as a flood rescue boat for rapid response providing a self-powered or pull along vessel for quick access and deployment, and a 7,000 kW generator, a reliable power source for the mobile command unit, that will ensure reliable power during field deployment or power outages.
Scanlon said the county recognizes that progress in the recovery sphere must be persistent, ongoing, consistent, and it must be transparent.
“We’re very much excited and honored to continue to work in the community of Pajaro for the next several years,” she said.
